the catechins found in tea, specifically green tea, create thermogenesis-the production of heat within the body which is related to burning calories. These compounds may inhibit certain chemicals in the brain, therby prolonging thermogenesis. In one study, participants who drank four cups of tea daily had remarkably higher fat oxidation (by 12 percent) and burned an average of 67 additional calories a day. Drinking at least three cups a day is recommended to raise the body's metabolic rate.